Navigating News in the Age of AI: Smart Media's Influence on Political Learning

Abstract Despite extensive research on news consumption and political learning, the implications of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI)-driven smart media devices such as Amazon Echo and Google Home, remain underexplored. Moreover, little is known about how cognitive factors, such as trust in AI technologies, shape these dynamics. This study investigates the relationship between smart media use and political knowledge, emphasizing the mediating role of political discussion and the moderating influence of trust in AI. Drawing on survey data from three studies conducted across two countries, the findings reveal that news use via smart media devices is linked to both positive and negative outcomes for political knowledge, depending on the nature of individuals' political discussions. Specifically, smart media news use enhances political knowledge when discussions occur with strong social ties on social media, but it is negatively associated with knowledge when discussions involve weak ties. The magnitude of both positive and negative effects increases among those who exhibit greater trust in AI. By integrating smart media use and AI trust into existing models of political learning, this study offers novel insights into the evolving role of intelligent technologies in shaping citizens' political understanding in the digital age.